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Orlando is the adventure park capital of the United States (or at least in the eastern half of the country). But vacations are expensive with costs adding up all over the place. How can one have a good time in Orlando without busting the bank? Obviously one of the easiest ways to save on Orlando is to go in the winter - January and parts of February tend to be the cheapest.

There are a number of ways people can economize and plan a budget-friendly trip to Orlando depending on one's itinerary. Some people are fine with being spontaneous and uncertain, while others need to plan ahead and have everything booked in advance. Some are traveling solo, while others are with families. All these greatly impact one's itinerary when going to Orlando.

The Spontaneous Traveler To Orlando

If one is a spontaneous traveler, then one can also take advantage of last-minute discounts. One may be able to find last-minute flights at shapely reduced rates or find special deals on Disney World's and Universal's deals pages.

Of course, it may be difficult to co-inside cheap flight deals with theme park deals, but it is easier to do so in the off-peak season.

If one is a spontaneous traveler and happy to wait until the last minute not knowing if one will be able to get discounted tickets or not, then there are other opportunities while one's there. One must be willing to accept the risk that things can sell out.

Pros and Cons:

  • Pro: Possibility Of Significant Savings
  • Con: Uncertainty If There Will Be Discounts
  • Pro: Excitement Of Not Knowing What One Will Do
  • Con: Can Be Stressful Worrying

Boardway shows and Las Vegas shows are famous for having last-minute steeply discounted tickets for those willing to risk and wait to snatch them up. Likewise, there is something similar for Orlando too. There are websites offering last-minute deals and regular discounted deals in Orlando for Disney, Orlando, and other attractions.

Two websites to check include orlandofuntickets.com and South Florida Savings Guy. OrlandoFunTickets is an Authorized Reseller of Disney Theme Park Tickets that offers families a safe and easy way to order discount theme park tickets. South Florida Savings Guy lists a number of options to save with last-minute tickets.

The opposite of being spontaneous can also save money. One can often get cheaper deals by planning far in advance.

Related: Adventure, Action, & Eco Parks: Visit Orlando But Skip Disney

Family Vacations In Orlando

There are lots of deals aimed at families trying to make their trip to Orlando affordable. While there is a myriad of websites to check for affordable families packages, there's always looking direct.

An example of a special deal offered by Universal (as of the time of writing June 2022) includes three park admissions and five nights of accommodation at Universal's Endless Summer Resort at their Dockside Inn and Suites. This deal starts from $99 per night per person - based on a family of 4.

  • Deals: Check Disney and Universal For Special Offerings

An example of a special offer from Disney is offering 20% off this summer for their 50th anniversary.

With a family vacation to Orlando, it can make better sense to book package deals that combine accommodation and tickets. Often this is cheaper than booking things separately.

Related: Orlando Is More Than Disney: Here's What Else To Experience

An Orlando Itinerary Without Theme Park Rides

While Orlando is mostly about theme parks, it doesn't have to be about the parks - or at least about the rides. One can visit some districts of Disney and Universal without paying entry fees - they are some free things to do in Orlando. These attractions often have free entertainment and including performances, live shows, live music, dancing events, and more.

Free Things To Do In Orlando:

  • Disney's Boardwalk
  • Universal's Citywalk
  • Disney Springs
  • Old Town

Other things to do while in Orlando include visiting Gatorland (see live alligators in the natural habitats), going to the Kennedy Space Center, exploring the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit, or just taking a Boggy Creek Airboat Ride.

Unfortunately, none of these attractions are particularly cheap - although sometimes (like with Gatorland) one can save by buying the tickets online.

Another option is if one is a return visitor to Orlando, then consider buying annual passes - it doesn't take long for annual passes to be much cheaper than buying individual tickets.